Council Reluctantly Disapproves Of Prayer Box At City Hall

[DeSwiss]

Rensselaer Nixes City Hall Prayer Boxes

Journal and Courier • By Eric Weddle • December 23, 2008



RENSSELAER, IN.-- The council of this Jasper County city denied Monday -- with regrets -- a request to install a prayer box in City Hall. The small wooden box was the idea of local ministers to allow anyone seeking spiritual support or offer praise to leave an anonymous note, but the city attorney warned passage could lead to future problems or even a lawsuit. "Personally, we would have approved this in a heartbeat," said Mayor Herbert Arihood when leaving City Hall after the five-member council voted no during a regular meeting. "But we have to honor the law."

Since the First Amendment does not offer a clear-cut answer on this particular issue, attorney William T. Sammons said, that same ambiguity could set in motion other requests and messy litigation. Remembering a nearly 20-year-old court case that stopped Bible distribution in local schools, the all-Republican council was hesitant to approve a possibly controversial measure. "Community standards say this would be a great thing," said George Cover, Third Ward council member. "But there is always that one or two in the community that really don't care about the standards."

The Rev. Garry Wickert, representing the ministers, said the boxes are already in private business as a means to uplift the community but he understood the council's reasoning. Rensselaer garnered national attention when a long-standing tradition of Gideons International members offering Bibles at local fifth-grade classrooms was challenged in 1990. In Berger by Berger v. Rensselaer Central School Corp., resident Allen Berger sued the school corporation on behalf of his 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter because of the Bible distribution. A U.S. district judge sided with the school in 1991 but it was overturned by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1993. Arihood was on the school board during the litigation.

The box -- which would not have mentioned any religious affiliation, church or the word "God" -- would have been placed in the City Hall reception area. The cards would then be collected every week or so and taken to local churches where the prayers would be offered. "We are going to continue praying," Wickert said. "And we encourage you to let us know if there are prayers for the city or individuals you'd want us to pray for and we would be very happy to do that."

http://www.jconline.com/article/20081223/NEWS/812230317">LINK

- - No clear-cut answers??? Why.... why..... damn you standards!!! And damn you Constitution!!!

You're always getting in Jesus' way!!!!
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DeSwiss


http://www.atheisttoolbox.com/">The Atheist Toolbox




"Prayer is just a way of telling god that his divine plan for
you is flawed -- and shockingly stingy" ~ Betty Bowers

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. They should install a public comment box instead

And see what they find in that.

[MNBrewer]

3. Maybe some fresh, crisp copies of the Constitution?

[Cronus Protagonist]

5. Yeah, maybe they could have the establishment clause printed right on it

With a document holder for copies of the entire Constitution.

[virgogal]

2. Hucksterism is what it is. A prayer box in City Hall. Nuts !!!

[w4rma]

4. Wow, that city council handled that well. Especially considering they are all Repukes. (nt)